Decreasing Fatigue in Patients with Advanced Breast Cancer

January 23, 2025

Disclaimer statement: The information and resources contained within this document are for educational purposes only. Please make sure to discuss any resources with the Here for the Girls Team. This information should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. This information should not be used in lieu of care from a licensed physician or mental health practitioner. Although the content of the resources has been reviewed by the Here for the Girls Team, you should use caution whenever accessing or referring to information from outside sources, including the Internet. Trigger warning: We want to acknowledge that facing a cancer diagnosis, sharing with others, and even accessing support resources such as a group can trigger many thoughts and feelings, including those that are distressing. We want to remain supportive and sensitive to your individual journey and related needs. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you would like additional support or to discuss your experience during the group.

Overview

Women with stage IV breast cancer who experienced moderate to severe fatigue participated in a study to determine whether Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) reduced fatigue symptoms and improved quality of life. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is a mindfulness-based therapy approach that helps patients better accept chronic cancer-related fatigue (Mrr, 2024).

Fatigue and Cancer

Although ⅔ individuals with metastatic breast cancer are affected by fatigue, we have limited treatment options available. Fatigue can interfere with cognition, mood, and significantly impact a patient's overall quality of life (Mrr, 2024).

Study

The study consisted of women with stage IV breast cancer who experienced moderate to severe fatigue. The study participants were randomly assigned to two different groups. The first group received six weekly telephone-delivered sessions of ACT, while the second group received standard education or support (Mrr, 2024).The participants from both groups were then assessed after two weeks, three months, and six months.

Results

The patients who received ACT reported decreased levels of fatigue and an overall increase in quality of life, when compared to the group that received standard education or support. The patients who received ACT also reported a steady decline in sleep interference (Mrr, 2024). ACT positively impacted the study participants, and is a promising treatment option for those struggling with cancer-related fatigue.

A link to this article can be found here.

DEIB Discussion

While ACT could offer fatigue relief in women diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer, the limitations of this therapy must also be discussed before it can be a viable supplementation to treatment for all. The article touches on methods of delivery for the treatment, which touches on accessibility. They state that ACT interventions can be given over the phone without relying on stable internet access, which some women undergoing treatment may not have.

However, there also needs to be a discussion on whether this treatment is culturally inclusive. ACT therapy is driven by helping the individual accept their thoughts and feelings, acknowledge how these can and will influence their behavior, and adjust their behavior to match their core values. While this therapeutic intervention can be effective, it may not address those in different cultures and how it can affect the ease of putting oneself first.

In more collectivist cultures, it is not common to put yourself first, instead, you will think of how your actions will affect those around you. It could make it difficult for those outside of individualistic cultures to switch that view to seeing how your feelings affect you first instead of only seeing how it can impact others. ACT could be tailored to the individual’s culture, and implementation should happen before it is used widely for women with stage IV cancer, as it could cause harm without this inclusivity.


References:

Mrr. (2024, December 6). Decreasing Fatigue in Patients with Advanced Breast Cancer - News Center. News Center. https://news.feinberg.northwestern.edu/2024/12/06/decreasing-fatigue-in-patients-with-advanced-breast-cancer/

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